Brazil’s Supreme Court has upheld the decision to maintain the ban on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. The judges unanimously voted in favor of the ban, meaning the platform will remain suspended in Brazil.
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The ban on X has been in place since early Saturday after the company failed to appoint a new legal representative in Brazil before the court-imposed deadline. This is the latest development in the ongoing conflict between Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and X’s owner, Elon Musk, which began in April when the judge ordered the suspension of dozens of accounts for allegedly spreading misinformation.
Judge Moraes called for a five-member panel to rule on the suspension, which has caused divisions within Brazilian society. One of the justices, Flávio Dino, argued that “freedom of expression must always be accompanied by responsibility.”
“Freedom of expression cannot exist without responsibility, and vice versa,” Dino emphasized.
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Reacting to the decision to ban X, Musk strongly criticized it, stating: “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy, and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes.”
In his ruling, Judge Moraes gave companies like Apple and Google a five-day deadline to remove X from their app stores and block its use on iOS and Android devices. He also warned that individuals or businesses still accessing X via virtual private networks (VPNs) could face fines of up to R$50,000 (approximately $8,910 or £6,780).
X closed its office in Brazil last month, citing that its legal representative had been threatened with arrest if she did not comply with what the company described as “censorship”, claiming it violated Brazilian law.
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Previously, Judge Moraes ordered the suspension of X accounts accused of spreading disinformation—many of which belonged to supporters of former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro—while investigations continue.
Musk’s Critical Market Affected
Brazil is considered one of the largest markets for X. With access to the platform blocked, many Brazilians have turned to the microblogging platform Bluesky as an alternative. In just the past two days, Bluesky reported registering an additional half a million users in the South American nation.
Among those redirecting followers to his Bluesky account was Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who shared links to his other social media accounts outside of X last Thursday.
In the list of social media accounts Lula shared, his Bluesky profile was at the top, followed by links to his Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, TikTok, and Facebook.
Jay Graber, CEO of Bluesky, expressed excitement over the influx of new users from Brazil, posting in both Portuguese and English: “Good job, Brazil, you made the right choice.”
Political and Legal Tensions
The clash between Elon Musk and Judge Alexandre de Moraes is not merely about controlling information but reflects the ongoing political tensions in Brazil. As the country has struggled with waves of misinformation, managing social media platforms has become a critical task for the government and judiciary.
However, Musk’s accusation that Moraes is wielding his power for political purposes has sparked heated debates about free speech and the role of judicial leaders in controlling information.
The ban on X in Brazil is not just a legal action but represents a complex battle between Elon Musk, one of the world’s most powerful billionaires, and a judicial system striving to maintain order in an era where online information has become an integral part of modern life.
With this decision, Brazil is opening a new chapter in the global struggle between freedom of speech and information responsibility—a challenge that not only Brazil but many other nations are facing.
